Reading this morning in Psalm 40 it seemed to me that the Psalm does a good job of describing three cycles through which my relationship with God drifts.
Then there are times when time with Him is a real struggle. Study and devotion is a chore. It seems as if He is busy with other things without time for me. There is still good stuff to be had , but it takes more work, more effort.
Then there are times when it feels like nothing is happening. Prayers are continually answered with apparent "No." The Word is dry, in both study and devotion. Prayer feels like it is not just not making through the ceiling, it feels like it is not reaching the ceiling. Life is not working out at all. I begin to wonder if this is all real...
God, Jesus never changes. He is always there. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us of that truth. In each of these cycles which I experience He is the same. I am the one that is changing. He is still engaged, even with the mechanics of the change.
The key to navigating these cycles, is the attitude in verse 1.
- Intimacy
- Distance
- Disillusion
Then there are times when it feels like nothing is happening. Prayers are continually answered with apparent "No." The Word is dry, in both study and devotion. Prayer feels like it is not just not making through the ceiling, it feels like it is not reaching the ceiling. Life is not working out at all. I begin to wonder if this is all real...
God, Jesus never changes. He is always there. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us of that truth. In each of these cycles which I experience He is the same. I am the one that is changing. He is still engaged, even with the mechanics of the change.
The key to navigating these cycles, is the attitude in verse 1.
It seems to me that God's silence was one of the big issues that Job struggled with. Then there's the Heman in Psalm 88 - probably my favorite chapter in the Bible to pass over as soon as I could. If I understand verses such as 1 taken with 15, this has gone on virtually all his life. And God never (as far as the record) did answer him. I think Jeremiah had some difficulties with this, too.
ReplyDeleteThe silence of God is a strange thing. It is the realm of doubt, fear, accusation and probably a dozen other dark demons. And it all may just be because God wants me to trust Him - to look at the dark until I can see the small glimmer of light that is Him in that place. The dark can be a quiet place, where I can hear Him say things that are different. Or He just does want to perfect His work in me as you suggest, Mike, through learning patience (James 1:4). I don't really know most of the time whats going on, except that I usually don't like it.